Keep In Touch

Okayplayer is back to burn with three mixes to get you right for the week. One of our true heros, DJ Red Alert, says goodbye to KISS-FM just before it merges with WBLS. New York City now officially has only one urban radio station. (Don’t get us started.) We also have a Marc Mac x Dilla mix and a 4/20 mix from Darien Birks of The Stuyvesants full of rare groove loveliness.

DJ Red Alert – Thank You Mix (Final 98.7 KISS FM Show

Saturday night, über-legendary DJ Red Alert broadcasted his final mix from 98.7 KISS FM. The station is officially merging with it’s long-time rival, 107.5 WBLS. Frankly, it’s not such a happy situation (the Village Voice describes the arrangement in more detail). Nevertheless, Red Alert delivered a heartfelt goodbye to his alma mater of almost 20 years by delivering a signature mix of funk, soul, and hip-hop classics. Stream via Soundcloud. (Spotted at ET)

Part 1

Part 2

Marc Mac x Bonafide Beats – 46 Minutes of Dilla Magic

London-based producer Marc Mac crafted this mix in conjunction with BBE and Bonafide Beats for World Record Store Day 2012. He throws in quite a few beat tape tracks that J Dilla aficionados will recognize, as well as some official Jay Dee/Ummah remixes. At this point, there may be more Dilla mixtapes than there are Dilla productions (and that’s saying a LOT), but if you can never have too much of a good thing, maybe they’re the case in point. Stream it below.

Darien Birks (flwrpt) – 420

In celebration of that important date, 4/20 (if you have to ask, just Google it), Brooklyn renaissance man, Darien Birks, (flwrpt blog owner, graphic artist, and 1/2 of the production duo, The Stuyvesants, amongst other things) dropped this potent mix of buttery-smooth soul joints. And I mean JOINTS. It features artists like Isaac Hayes, Little Beaver, Roy Ayers, Faze-O, and one my personal favorites, Pleasure. Extra dope on 4/20, but great for any day, really. See the tracklist below. Download, roll that ish, light that ish, etc.

Check out his other mixes on flwrpt, including a Sounds of Spring mix from last month that features two remixes from yours truly.